Diamond sponsorship for African Utility Week

KPMG

from DION HENRICK in Cape TownCAPE TOWN, (CAJ News) – PREPARATIONS for the 17th annual African Utility Week have received a major boost after KPMG, the professional services company, was confirmed as the diamond sponsor.

The conference and expo will take place from May 16 to May 18 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

Ahmed Jaffer, Chairman of KPMG in South Africa and the Head of Power and Utilities, says the African Utility Week is a great platform that attracts key decision makers within the sector.

“As a firm with an interest in Africa’s power and water sector, we are excited about this event. KPMG has the skills, knowledge and act as advisors as well as auditors within the sector. As such, we concluded that being a diamond sponsor was important for this strategic event on the energy calendar,” says Jaffer.

He says the biggest challenges currently engulfing the sector, remains elusive on the African continent.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates two out of three people in sub-Saharan Africa do not have access to electricity.

This translates into 620 million people on the continent without electricity and for those that have the supply, the supply is unreliable and very expensive compared to world standards.

De Buys Scott, Senior Partner in Deal Advisory and Head of Infrastructure Advisory at KPMG in South Africa, notes that the 2017 Africa Utility Week is best-placed to bring together different ideas to solve the energy security issue.

Meanwhile, Evan Schiff, Event Director for African Utility Week, says KPMG has been a highly-valued partner of African Utility Week for many years.

“Their commitment to join us as Diamond Sponsor is not only a testament to the value of the event, but more importantly to the ongoing commitment of one of the world’s most valuable brands to the delivery of energy and clean water to the African continent,” he says.